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APPLICATION FILED MAY 12, I915.

Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

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WITNESSES m Wm INVENTOR Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

E. J. HICKSON.

I BED. APPLICATION FILED MAY 12, I915.

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Application filed May 12, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN J. HIcKsoN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Butler, in the county of Butler and State of Pennsylvania, and useful Improvements in Beds, of which the following is a specification.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved bed bottom formed in two in dependent sections, whereby neither will sag or drag on the other, combined with improved means for so connecting and supporting the sections that either section may be lifted up or opened without disturbing the other, thereby providing ready access to the space beneath the bed for cleaning, etc. A further object is to provide improved supporting means for the adjacent portions of the bed bottom sections, the supporting means being adjustable and thereby adapting a bed bottom of given size to bed frames varying in length. The invention also includes means for non-rotatably securing the spring supporting means to the bedstead frame, whereby the raising or upward turning of either section in no way disturbs or impairs the position or usefulness of the other section.

In addition to the advantages incident to the improved construction when in actual use, a further feature is the facility with which the bottom may be folded and hence conveniently shipped or moved from place to place, and particularly up and down stairs.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a View in perspective of a portion of a bedstead with the improved spring and spring support'in position thereon a section of the spring being shown in upturned position, as for cleaning beneath the bed. Fig. 2 is a view of a portion of the bed frame and bed bottom intop plan. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a view on a larger scale of one end of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the support illustrated in Fig. 4 taken at right angles to the latter, and Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-section on line 66 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, Z'designates the head-piece posts or uprights of the bed stead frame which are connected by the end rail 3 of angle iron. 4 are the foot-piece posts, and 5 is the angle-iron end rail which connects them. 6 are the bed-frame side rails.

The bed bottom. as here embodied is Specification of Letters Patent.

have invented certain new Patented Apr. 16, 191?. Serial N 0. 27,487.

formed in two sections arranged side by side and extending longitudinally of the bedstead frame. Each section has the transverse end bars 7, and depending from the outer portions of these bars are brackets 8 which are connected by reach bar 9, thereby rigidly connecting the outer portions of bars T'between which the flexible spring bottom or filling 10 is strung. Projecting from each bracket 8 is a toe 11 for supporting the bot tom on side rails 6.

For connecting and supporting the adjacent portions of the bed bottom sections, the corresponding bars 7 of the bottom sections are hinged to the interposed piece of angle iron 12 which is adapted to aline with and in effect provide an unbroken continuation of the end bars of the sections. Secured to the opposite angle pieces 12 are the depending brackets 13, each formed at its lower end with a socket 14, the end of the latter being formed with a square opening. The opposite brackets 13 are connected by the tubular reach bar 15 which holds the adjacent portions of the bottom sections properly spaced apart, preventing longitudinalcollapse of the bottom. At the outer end ofeach socket 14 is the angular hole or passage 16 and adapted to enter and fit the same is the angular arm 17, which being held from turning prevents turning of thereach bar and of brackets 13. Hence, no matter how great the turning stress on central brackets 13 they are positively held.

The distance between end rails 3 and 5 of the head and foot pieces differs in different bed frames, and hence a bed bottom having a non-adjustable support may fit one frame and not another. YVith the construction herein proposed, length variations are taken care of and at the same time the support commonto the hinge-connected sections is rigidly held so that hinge movement of either part will not affect the stability of the other part.

For securing arm 17 to bed frame bar 3 (or 5) the extremity of the arm is'forked, and the upper branch 18 of the fork is flanged downwardly slightly at 18 to overhang the outer portion of bar 5, so that with the parts connected the arm cannot pull off or separate from the bar to which it is connected. The lower arm 19 of the fork extends beneath bar 3 (or 5) as shown most 1 clearly in Fig. 4 and carries the clamping or set screw 20 whlch operates to securely cated of one of the sections of Fig. 1, thereby giving ready access to the space beneath the bed for cleaning or other purposes. The

non-rotatable connection between brackets 13 and arms 17 render the bottom sections quite independent of each other, each section be ing rigid, and in no way strained or dis- 7 placed by stress upon or movement of the other section. Clamping of arms 17 to the bed frame prevents displacement of the bed bottom in any direction. l/Vith the bottom sections folded together they may be conveniently shipped or moved from place to place, and particularly up and down stairways and through other contracted spaces.

The spring lacing or filling of the bottom sections may be variously embodied. As here shown, the outer longitudinal portion of each section is provided with a marginal spring strip 21, and secured to and connecting the central fixed supporting pieces 12 are the parallel spring strips 22one for the'filling of each section and to which the latter is linked as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, whereby hinge movement of the parts may be effected without hindrance. The filling or lacing 23 intermediate the marginal spring strips 21 and 22 of each section of the bottom may bevariously arranged, as here shown being provided with the terminal coiled springs 2 1 which connect the lacing with the angular end bars 7. It will of course be understood that the spring bottom or filling may be variously embodied without departing from the invention.

It is characteristic of the invention that while the reach bar 9 of each section holds rigidly the outer portion of the section, the central reach bar 15 and its brackets perform a like service for the inner or adjacent portions of the sections, the result being that the longitudinal rigidity of the bed bottom is maintained at all times and regardless of whether the parts are folded together or in full open position.

I claim:

1. Thecombination ofa bedstead frame including opposite end rails, a bed bottom formed in sections, supporting devices interposed between the sections and to which thevlatter are hinged, a tubular reach bar connecting the supporting devices, arms movable longitudinally in the extremities of the reach bar but non-rotatable therein, and

means for clamping said arms to the end rails of the bedstead frame.

2. The combination of a bedstead frame including opposite end rails, a bed bottom, brackets depending from the bottom and formed with reach bar sockets, the socket ends formed with angular openings, a reach bar having its ends entered in said bracket sockets, arms angular in cross-section adapted to enter the angular sockets and on which the latter have a sliding fit, and clamps carried by the outer extremities of the arms for securing the same to the end rails of the bedstead frame.

3. A bed bottom comprising transverse opposite end bars, a filling between and coupled to said bars, opposite side depressed rigid longitudinal reach bars at their ends rigidly coupled to said end bars at the four corners of the bed bottom, rigid center supporting brackets depending from said end bars, a rigid depressed longitudinal center reach bar at its ends fixed to said center brackets, and supporting means projecting outwardly from said center brackets and adapted to rest on the end rails of the bedstead and comprising an elongated arm adjustable longitudinally and recessed at its outer end to fit down on a bedstead end rail against slipping transversely therefrom in either direction, said arm being angular in cross section and fitting in said bracket against turning.

4-,. A bed bottom comprising transverse end bars, a flexible filling between and coupled to said bars, supporting brackets depending from said bars, reach bars fixed to and connecting said brackets, said brackets provided with supports to rest on the bedstead frame, a pair of said brackets formed with sockets and one of said reach bars being tubular and at its ends fixed in said sockets, one of said sockets having an angular orifice alined with said tubular reach bar, one of said supports being formed by an arm angular in cross section and fitted in said orifice against turning and adjustable longitudinally of said tubular reach bar and at its outer end recessed to receive and fit 'on an end rail of the bedstead frame.

5. A bed bottom consisting of transverse end bars, and supports therefor comprising depending brackets, a tubular reach bar fixed to and connecting said brackets, one of said brackets having an opening alined with said reach bar, a supporting arm fitting said opening against turning and adjustable therethrough and extending longitudinally into said reach bar and at its outer end formed to fit on and project under the end rail of a bedstead frame and having shoulders to prevent endwise slipping in either direction from said rail.

6. A bed bottom comprising depending center brackets, a center longitudinal reach bar between and fixed to said brackets, center sections of transverse end bars fixed to the upper ends of said brackets, upwardly swingable opposite side sections of said bars hinged to said fixed center sections, a flexible filling between said transverse end bars, depending brackets secured to the outer ends of said opposite side sections and having supports to rest on the bed side rails, outer side longitudinal reach bars fixed to said last mentioned brackets, and supporting bars longitudinally adjustable through said center brackets and in said center reach bar and formed to prevent rocking of said brackets thereon, said bars formed to rest on and fit the end rails of the bedstead frame against movement thereon and therefrom and to hold said brackets and their fixed center sections against rocking or movement when either side section is swung vertically.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN J. HICKSON.

Witnesses S. A. MQFARLAND, ELLA McCoNNELL.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington I). C. 

